Stinky pet breath: a refresher

Few things in life are as sweet as the greeting from a loving dog or cat when you get home from a long day at work. And nothing can ruin a canine kiss or kitty snuggle more quickly than icky pet breath. From a health perspective, dental disease (from bad breath to gingivitis to severe tartar and tooth decay) can be a very serious problem. And bad breath may not just affect the mouth of your animal companion -- advanced dental disease can actually damage the heart, lungs and kidneys.

In recognition of national Pet Dental Health month, here are a few tips to keep your furry friends' chompers lookimg white and smelling nice:

High quality food

Optimal health can be as simple as this; you get out what you put in. That is, the quality of the food your pet eats has a direct affect on his overall health, as well as the health of their teeth and gums. Think of it this way -- which do you think would result in the better health for YOUR mouth, a steady diet from Whole Foods or a steady diet of McDonalds?

While crunchy kibble in and of itself may not play a major role on keeping dog and cat teeth plaque-free, there are some high-quality kibble that are designed specifically to "scrape" your pet's teeth as they chew it.

Having said that, a non-crunchy "wet" diet is perfectly fine as long as it is balanced, healthy and of the highest quality.

Chew toys

and dental treats

How do animals in the wild keep their teeth clean, you may ask? The answer is: They chew. Providing your furry friend with a species- and size-appropriate chew toy can go a long way toward keeping the mouth healthy. But, be careful. Chews that are too hard can actually break teeth, and be aware if your pet is the kind of critter who likes to swallow a chew when it's just barely small enough to "go down."

There are also some fantastic dental-care specific chews and treats on the market. Some of these chews are even imbedded with enzymes that can help keep a dog or cat's mouth healthy and clean. Ask your veterinarian what chew or treat might be best for your companion.

Water additives

Do you use mouthwash after you brush your teeth? Ever wish you could get your dog or cat to gargle his way to a minty-fresh mouth as well? Well, guess what -- you can! Sort of.

Obviously you can't teach your pet to rinse with Scope but there are some excellent pet-specific water additives that accomplish essentially the same task, killing off the nasty bacteria that grow in your pet's mouth causing that awful odor. The best of these products, such as Healthy Mouth and Aquadent, are only available through a veterinarian, but most offices carry them. Adding a little of one of these water additives to your furry pal's water dish every day could go a long way to fighting the bad breath battle.

Brushing

a pet's teeth

Just like with your teeth, the very best way to maintain a healthy pet mouth is with tooth brushing. Of course, you'll have better luck getting your cat to bark like a dog than getting her to brush her own teeth. The task of brushing is going to be yours to tackle.

Fear not. It's actually not as challenging as you may think. There are countless videos and "How-tos" all over the Internet. In addition, your veterinarian would be more than happy to give you a lesson. For many pets it actually becomes a fun, delicious game and even brushing once or twice a week can make a huge difference.

Incorporate one or two of the above tips into your pet's life and you'll be well on your way to a much healthier furry friend. Incorporate all four and who knows, maybe your friends will even welcome a slobbery doggy or kitty kiss when they come over.

Boulder's Natural Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital located in Boulder that also provides a wide variety of integrative medical options such as acupuncture, low-level laser therapy, canine massage, nutritional supplements, dietary consultation, homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine. The clinic is located at 685 South Broadway. For more information, go to bouldersnaturalanimal.com , find them on Facebook at facebook.com/bouldersnaturalanimal or call 303-494-7877.

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